Way We Were, paperback

Among those affected by the renewal of Vatican II, none experienced more radical changes than women religious. Habits were replaced by secular dress; separation behind the cloister gave way to service in the world. But as Joan Chittister shows us, the deepest changes were less visible - a new way of thinking and imagining the meaning of religious life. For communities like the Benedictines of Erie, that had seen little change in a hundred years, the impact was immense.

Joan Chittister

Joan Chittister is an internationally known author and lecturer, and the executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality. She serves as cochair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, a partner organization of the UN, facilitating a worldwide network of women peace builders. Her books include The Gift of Years, The Monastery of the Heart, and Uncommon Gratitude (with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams). She is past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and was prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania, for twelve years.